Obama’s first look at New York’s devastation included a helicopter tour above Queens and a visit to Staten Island, where he greeted people in a FEMA tent and then set out on a walking tour.

“I’m very proud of you, New York. You’re tough,” Obama said in brief remarks after walking through a storm-stricken neighborhood.

While many in the region have moved on since Sandy swept through the area, killing more than a 100 people and leaving millions without power, much work remains: Thousands are still without power, tens of thousands are homeless, and many more are trying to pick up the pieces.

“We Americans are going to stand with each other in our hour of need,” Obama said. “People still need emergency help, they still need heat, they still need food. We’re going to make sure we stay here as long as people need help.”

Diane Rivera, of Staten Island, described the storm’s impact on her life.

“Heartbreak, absolute heartbreak,” Rivera said. “We had a nice house and family here, and we were happy here and it’s gone. It’s gone. It’s our whole life we put on the curb for the trash.”

During his tour, Obama met with affected families, local officials and first responders dealing with Sandy’s destruction. He promised that the federal government would do all it could to help.

“We Americans are going to stand with each other in our hour of need," Obama said.

The president was joined by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both New York Democrats, traveled with the president too.

“Seventeen days ago, we felt a new vulnerability for the first time,” said Cuomo. “We must reknit the fabric of tattered communities.”

The president traveled to New Jersey on Oct. 31 to meet with Gov. Chris Christie and view recovery efforts in coastal communities. The president viewed flattened houses, flooded neighborhoods, sand-strewn streets and a still-burning fire along the state's battered coastline. Parts of the New Jersey shore's famed boardwalks were missing.

Obama pledged to those affected by the storm that "we are here for you and we will not forget."

Obama also traveled to Louisiana in early September after the Gulf Coast was hit by Hurricane Isaac.

Thousands of people in the New York region remain without power 2½ weeks after Sandy hit, including customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties, just east of New York City, and in parts of Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island.